What is biodiversity?
- August 16, 2023
- , 9:00 am
- , Natura e scienza
The survival of humankind depends on biodiversity. We discover the value of this link and why it is at risk. In a time of climate change, indeed climate crisis, biodiversity is also under threat. But what is biodiversity and why is it at risk?
What is biodiversity?
“The world is beautiful because it is diverse” is not only a saying that we can apply to people’s behaviors, but it is also appropriate for ecosystems. Biodiversity is the variability that exists among living organisms and among the ecosystems of which they are a part. We talk about variability within a single species, between different species, and between ecosystems. For example, think about how important bees and other pollinating insects are in food production.
Why is biodiversity at risk?
The survival of humankind depends on biodiversity because it provides essential services such as clean air, clean water, food and medicines. In addition, biodiversity is important for climate regulation and disease prevention. Loss of biodiversity can lead to reduced food and water security and increased disease.
But why is it at risk? To answer this question, it is necessary to talk about extinctions. Extinctions are phenomena that are part of natural evolution. However, this happens at a certain rate. Over the past two centuries, however, the rate at which species on Earth go extinct is estimated to have increased hundreds of times faster than expected
The sixth mass extinction
Do you remember the fifth mass extinction? Perhaps you were not yet born, because that was the one that wiped the dinosaurs off the planet. In that case, an asteroid that impacted the Earth was to blame, while now we are to blame.
The 5 threats to biodiversity
What are the threats to biodiversity? We can summarize them in 5 points.
1) land use change: deforestation and agricultural overproduction.
2) overexploitation of resources: intensive fishing, monocultures.
3) alien and invasive species: taken by people and moved to different ecosystems.
4) pollution: toxic substances and pollutants damage the balance of ecosystems.
5) climate change: does it need explaining?
WOWnature’s solution: BioClima.
Pollution, neglect, natural disasters, and the arrival of exotic and invasive species are putting Lombardy’s most vulnerable ecosystems at risk. With WOWnature, you can help safeguard more than 70 species, such as the Capercaillie and Lataste’s frog, in 12 natural areas in the region. How to do it? Click here.
